Methods and systems for creating and rendering skins are described. In one described embodiment skins can be defined as sets of script files, art files, media files, and text files. These files can be used to create new and different skin appearances, layouts and functionalities. The files are organized for use using a hierarchical tag-based data structure, an example of which is an XML data structure. The data structure is processed to provide an object model. The object model can be a scriptable object model that enables script to execute to provide an interactive, dynamic skin that can respond to internal and external events. In one embodiment, a computer architecture used for rendering the skin includes a layout manager that processes an intermediate representation of the XML data structure to provide the scriptable object model. Various components of the scriptable object model can include a script engine for receiving and executing script, and one or more rendering elements. Each rendering element represents a different skin element and can be individually configured to respond to script via the script engine. The inventive systems and techniques can provide a robust, dynamic skin that can be rendered and re-rendered at runtime. In other embodiments, properties associated with a skin's elements can be synchronized with other skin element properties or state that is associated with a software application. Synchronization can take place through the use of keywords that can be used in connection with the XML data structure. Synchronizations can be one- or two-way synchronizations.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method of providing a skin comprising: providing multiple skin elements that comprise part of a user interface; and synchronizing a property of at least a first of the skin elements with a property of a second of the skin elements such that a change in the property of the second of the elements causes a change in the property of the first of the elements, wherein said synchronizing comprises describing a synchronization between the properties using an XML data structure.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said describing comprises using a keyword to establish the synchronization.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said describing comprises: associating a keyword with the property of the first element; and associating the property of the second element with the keyword.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said synchronizing comprises establishing a one-way synchronization between the properties.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said synchronizing comprises establishing a two-way synchronization between the properties such that a change in the property of the first element causes a change in the property of the second element.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said synchronizing comprises using an XML name-value pair to effect the synchronization.
7. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to: provide multiple skin elements that comprise part of a user interface; and synchronize, using an XML data structure, a property of at least a first of the skin elements with a property of a second of the skin elements such that a change in the property of the second of the elements causes a change in the property of the first of the elements.
8. A skin comprising: a first skin element having at least one property; and a second skin element having at least one property, the first skin element's property being synchronized with the second element's property independent of a script-enabled, event-response paradigm comprising a part of either skin element; and further comprising an XML data structure associated with and defining a synchronization between the first and second skin element properties.
9. A computing device embodying the skin of claim 8 .
10. A skin comprising: a first skin element having at least one property; a second skin element having at least one property; and an XML data structure configured to establish a synchronization between the one property of the first skin element and the one property of the second skin element.
11. A computing device embodying the skin of claim 10 .
12. A method of providing a skin comprising: providing multiple skin elements that comprise part of a user interface that is executing under the influence of a software application; synchronizing a property of at least one of the skin elements with a state associated with the software application such that a change in the state of the software application causes a change in the property of the one skin element, wherein said synchronizing comprises describing a synchronization using an XML data structure.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said describing comprises using a keyword to establish the synchronization.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein said describing comprises: associating a keyword with the property of the one element; and associating the state of the software application with the keyword.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein said synchronizing comprises using an XML name-value pair to effect the synchronization.
16. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to implement the method of claim 12 .
17. A method of providing a skin comprising: associating a property of a skin element with a keyword, the property comprising one to which another property for another skin element is to be synchronized; and assigning the keyword and its associated property as a value of the property of the other skin element that is to be synchronized.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein said associating and said assigning are accomplished using an XML data structure.
19. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to: associate a property of a skin element with a keyword, the property comprising one to which another property for another skin element is to be synchronized; and assign the keyword and its associated property as a value of the property of the other skin element that is to be synchronized, the computer performing such assignment using an XML data structure.
20. A method of providing a skin comprising: associating a state associated with a software application with a keyword, the state comprising one to which a property for a skin element associated with the software application is to be synchronized; and assigning the keyword and its associated state as a value of the property of the skin element.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein said associating and said assigning are accomplished using an XML data structure.
22. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to implement the method of claim 20 .
23. A method of providing a skin comprising: providing multiple skin elements that comprise part of a user interface; and synchronizing a property of at least a first of the skin elements with a property of a second of the skin elements such that a change in the property of the second of the elements causes a change in the property of the first of the elements, wherein said synchronizing comprises using an XML name-value pair to effect the synchronization.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein said synchronizing comprises establishing a one-way synchronization between the properties.
25. The method of claim 23 , wherein said synchronizing comprises establishing a two-way synchronization between the properties such that a change in the property of the first element causes a change in the property of the second element.
26. A method of providing a skin comprising: providing multiple skin elements that comprise part of a user interface that is executing under the influence of a software application; synchronizing a property of at least one of the skin elements with a state associated with the software application such that a change in the state of the software application causes a change in the property of the one skin element, wherein said synchronizing comprises using an XML name-value pair to effect the synchronization.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
January 31, 2001
September 14, 2004
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